Hand shower

Abstract

A hand shower including a handle with a first waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply. A shower head includes a second waterway having an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the second waterway is fluidly coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway, and the outlet portion of the second waterway includes a plurality of outlets configured to deliver water. The shower head is supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the handle between a first position and a second position angularly spaced from the first position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand shower comprising:
 a handle including a first waterway including an inlet portion defining a longitudinal inlet axis and an outlet portion defining a longitudinal outlet axis angled relative to the longitudinal inlet axis, the inlet portion configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply; 
 a shower head including a second waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion extending along a longitudinal outlet axis in a generally vertical direction, the inlet portion of the shower head fluidly coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway, and the outlet portion of the shower head including a plurality of outlets defining a water flow axis for delivering water at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal inlet axis of the handle; 
 wherein the inlet portion of the second waterway is rotatably coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway, such that the shower head rotates about the longitudinal outlet axis of the handle between a first position and a second position angularly spaced by 180 degrees from the first position; and 
 wherein the plurality of outlets of the shower head define the water flow axis at a first oblique angle relative to the handle toward a front side of the longitudinal inlet axis of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the first position, and the plurality of outlets of the shower head define the water flow axis at a second oblique angle relative to the handle toward a rear side of the longitudinal inlet axis of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the second position, the first oblique angle being different from the second oblique angle. 
 
     
     
       2. The hand shower of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion of the first waterway is coaxially aligned with the inlet portion of the second waterway. 
     
     
       3. The hand shower of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet portion of the first waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the first waterway, and the inlet portion of the second waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the second waterway. 
     
     
       4. The hand shower of  claim 2 , wherein one of the outlet portion of the first waterway and the inlet portion of the second waterway is concentrically received within the other of the inlet portion of the second waterway and the outlet portion of the first waterway. 
     
     
       5. The hand shower of  claim 1 , further comprising a detent device to releasably secure the shower head in one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       6. The hand shower of  claim 3 , wherein the detent device includes a cantilevered arm extending radially outwardly from one of the first waterway and the second waterway, and a flange extending radially outwardly from the other of the first waterway and the second waterway, the cantilevered arm supporting a locking tab and the flange supporting a first recess and a second recess, the locking tab received within the first recess to releasably secure the shower head in the first position, and the locking tab received within the second recess to releasably secure the shower head in the second position. 
     
     
       7. The hand shower of  claim 6 , wherein a lower surface of the cantilevered arm is biased toward and rides on an upper surface of the flange to provide a tactile feel to the user as the shower head is rotated. 
     
     
       8. The hand shower of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first outer shell receiving the first waterway; 
 the shower head includes a second outer shell receiving the second waterway; and 
 a first groove and a second groove axially spaced from the first groove are supported by at least one of the first waterway and the second waterway, wherein a lip of the first outer shell is retained within the first groove and a lip of the second outer shell is retained within the second groove. 
 
     
     
       9. The hand shower of  claim 8 , further comprising a wear flange positioned intermediate the first outer shell and the second outer shell. 
     
     
       10. The hand shower of  claim 1 , wherein the outlets are defined by a plurality of fluidic devices configured to oscillate water about a center axis. 
     
     
       11. The hand shower of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first outer shell receiving the first waterway; 
 the shower head includes a second outer shell receiving the second waterway; and 
 the first and second outer shells are contoured to together define a C-shape when the spray head is in the first position and define an S-shape when the spray head is in the second position. 
 
     
     
       12. A hand shower comprising:
 a handle including a base portion defining a longitudinal base axis and a connecting portion defining a longitudinal connector axis angled relative to the longitudinal base axis; 
 a shower head including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a waterway defining a longitudinal outlet axis, and a plurality of outlets defining a water flow axis for delivering water in a direction generally parallel to the water flow axis; 
 a connector rotatably coupling the shower head to the handle, such that the shower head rotates about the longitudinal connector axis of the handle between a first position and a second position angularly spaced by 180 degrees from the first position, wherein rotation of the shower head about the longitudinal connector axis alters the angular orientation of the water flow axis relative to the base portion of the handle; and 
 wherein the plurality of outlets of the shower head define the water flow axis at a first oblique angle relative to the handle toward a front side of the longitudinal inlet axis of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the first position, and the plurality of outlets of the shower head define the water flow axis at a second oblique angle relative to the handle toward a rear side of the longitudinal inlet axis of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the second position, the first oblique angle being different from the second oblique angle. 
 
     
     
       13. The hand shower of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply; 
 the shower head includes a second waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion fluidly coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway; and 
 the inlet portion of the second waterway is rotatably coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway, such that the shower head rotates about the longitudinal connector axis of the handle between a first position and a second position. 
 
     
     
       14. The hand shower of  claim 13 , wherein the outlet portion of the first waterway is coaxially aligned with the inlet portion of the second waterway. 
     
     
       15. The hand shower of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet portion of the first waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the first waterway, and the inlet portion of the second waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the second waterway. 
     
     
       16. The hand shower of  claim 13 , wherein one of the outlet portion of the first waterway and the inlet portion of the second waterway is concentrically received within the other of the inlet portion of the second waterway and the outlet portion of the first waterway. 
     
     
       17. The hand shower of  claim 13 , further comprising a detent device to releasably secure the shower head in one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       18. The hand shower of  claim 17 , wherein the detent device includes a cantilevered arm extending radially outwardly from one of the first waterway and the second waterway, and a flange extending radially outwardly from the other of the first waterway and the second waterway, the cantilevered arm supporting a locking tab and the flange supporting a first recess and a second recess, the locking tab received within the first recess to releasably secure the shower head in the first position, and the locking tab received within the second recess to releasably secure the shower head in the second position. 
     
     
       19. The hand shower of  claim 18 , wherein a lower surface of the cantilevered arm is biased toward and rides on an upper surface of the flange to provide a tactile feel to the user as the shower head is rotated. 
     
     
       20. The hand shower of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first outer shell receiving the first waterway; 
 the shower head includes a second outer shell receiving the second waterway; 
 a first groove and a second groove spaced from the second groove are supported by at least one of the first waterway and the second waterway, wherein a lip of the first outer shell is retained within the first groove and a lip of the second outer shell is retained within the second groove. 
 
     
     
       21. The hand shower of  claim 20 , further comprising a wear flange positioned intermediate the first outer shell and the second outer shell. 
     
     
       22. The hand shower of  claim 12 , wherein the outlets are defined by a plurality of fluidic devices configured to oscillate water about a center axis. 
     
     
       23. The hand shower of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first outer shell; 
 the shower head includes a second outer shell; and 
 the first and second outer shells are contoured to together define a C-shape when the spray head is in the first position and define an S-shape when the spray head is in the second position. 
 
     
     
       24. A hand shower comprising:
 a handle including a base portion defining a longitudinal base axis and a connecting portion defining a longitudinal connector axis angled relative to the longitudinal base axis; 
 a shower head including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a plurality of outlets configured to deliver water along a water flow axis, the shower head operably coupled to the handle for rotation about the longitudinal connector axis between a first position and a second position angularly spaced from the first position; 
 a detent device to releasably secure the shower head in one of the first position and the second position; 
 wherein the detent device includes a locking tab configured to be received within a first recess to prevent rotation of the showerhead relative to the handle from the first position, and configured to be received within a second recess to prevent rotation of the showerhead relative to the handles from the second position; 
 wherein rotation of the shower head about the longitudinal connector axis alters the angular orientation of the water flow along the water flow axis relative to the base portion of the handle; 
 wherein the second position is angularly spaced from the first position by 180 degrees; and 
 wherein the plurality of outlets of the shower head deliver water along the water flow axis at a first oblique angle relative to the base portion of the handle toward a front side of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the first position, and the plurality of outlets of the shower head deliver water along the water flow axis at a second oblique angle relative to the base portion of the handle toward a rear side of the hand shower and the water flow axis extends toward the inlet portion of the shower head when the shower head is in the second position, the first oblique angle being different from the second oblique angle. 
 
     
     
       25. The hand shower of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply; 
 the shower head includes a second waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion fluidly coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway; and 
 the inlet portion of the second waterway is rotatably coupled to the outlet portion of the first waterway, such that the shower head rotates about the longitudinal connector axis of the handle between the first position and the second position. 
 
     
     
       26. The hand shower of  claim 25 , wherein the inlet portion of the first waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the first waterway, and the inlet portion of the second waterway is angled relative to the outlet portion of the second waterway. 
     
     
       27. The hand shower of  claim 25 , wherein one of the outlet portion of the first waterway and the inlet portion of the second waterway is concentrically received within the other of the inlet portion of the second waterway and the outlet portion of the first waterway. 
     
     
       28. The hand shower of  claim 25 , wherein the detent device includes a cantilevered arm extending radially outwardly from one of the first waterway and the second waterway, and a flange extending radially outwardly from the other of the first waterway and the second waterway, the cantilevered arm supporting the locking tab and the flange supporting the first recess and the second recess, the locking tab received within the first recess to releasably secure the shower head in the first position, and the locking tab received within the second recess to releasably secure the shower head in the second position. 
     
     
       29. The hand shower of  claim 28 , wherein rotation of the spray head when in the first or second position, forces the cantilevered arm outwardly from the recess. 
     
     
       30. The hand shower of  claim 28 , wherein a lower surface of the cantilevered arm is biased toward and rides on an upper surface of the flange to provide a tactile feel to the user as the shower head is rotated. 
     
     
       31. The hand shower of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the handle includes a first outer shell receiving the first waterway; 
 the shower head includes a second outer shell receiving the second waterway; 
 a first groove and a second groove spaced from the second groove are supported by at least one of the first waterway and the second waterway, wherein a lip of the first outer shell is retained within the first groove and a lip of the second outer shell is retained within the second groove. 
 
     
     
       32. The hand shower of  claim 31 , further comprising a wear flange positioned intermediate the first outer shell and the second outer shell. 
     
     
       33. The hand shower of  claim 24 , wherein the outlets are defined by a plurality of fluidic devices configured to oscillate water about a center axis.